LETTER: Equalization Board is county's problem

I appreciate the recent publishing of Rob Mitchell's guest column and followed by Sunday's interview. It is so refreshing to have someone in the assessor's office that just simply wants to do the right thing.

I like the position Mr. Mitchell is taking about not really wanting to throw blame around but rather to look forward and get things right. I do think there is one thing The DNJ may have overlooked and I hope will follow up on. I was a property owner that had issues with my appraisal and the assessor's office under the previous administration. I can tell you that I was treated politely by the office but was not successful in negotiating a reasonable assessment. I decided to appeal my appraisal to the local board of equalization. This is where I feel we have really been let down. I think the number of settlements by the current administration is testimony to this failure in government. When I presented my first comparison showing the land value of a lot the same size and across the street bought at approximately the same time as mine and appraised at significantly less (nearly half if I remember right) a member of the board immediately made a motion to support the assessor's appraisal, it was immediately seconded, a vote was taken and unanimously the board voted to uphold the appraisal.

I had been told many times by others I was wasting my time going to the board. I got up and as I was about to leave a staff member led me out the door, apologized for what had just happened and suggested I appeal to the state. When I found out you could appeal and it only cost $50 that would be refundable I decided to go ahead with this. Long story short, the appraiser's office came back with a much more reasonable appraisal, assured me the property across the street would be reviewed and we settled. My question is where were they when these obvious misappraisals were going on. These are supposed to be citizens working for the citizens as a buffer with government. I think calling the board a rubber stamp to the assessor's office might be a little over the top, but my personal experience with them would suggest that has been the case.

Larry Osborne

Chesterfield Court

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LETTER: Equalization Board is county's problem

I appreciate the recent publishing of Rob Mitchell's guest column and followed by Sunday's interview. It is so refreshing to have someone in the assessor's office that just simply wants to do the